Children's Advocacy Center of the 1st Judicial District

09/24/2025

🏊‍♂️ 𝗝𝗖 𝗢𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗦𝘄𝗶𝗺 𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗰𝘀! 🌊

These clinics are a continuation of the Otters Swim Team and are perfect for young swimmers looking to build or improve their skills.

📅 𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗰 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 (𝗦𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘆𝘀)
• Sept. 29
• Oct. 13
• Oct. 27
• Nov. 10
• Nov. 24
🕕 𝟲:𝟬𝟬 – 𝟳:𝟯𝟬 𝗣𝗠
📍 𝗠𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿r
👧🧒 𝗔𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝟲–𝟭𝟴
💲$𝟱/𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱

💦 𝗧𝘄𝗼 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗽𝘀:
• Group I (6:00–6:45 PM): For swimmers new to swim team – focusing on fundamentals and stroke development.
• Group II (6:45–7:30 PM): For swimmers with some experience – focusing on building technique and refining skills.

📞 𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗼, 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗰𝘁:
Katelyn Williams – 303-210-8359
Hannah Smith – 423-434-5754

🖱️ 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗮𝘁 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗸 𝗼𝗿 𝗶𝗻 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝘁 𝗠𝗣𝗖𝗖

09/24/2025

PUBLIC SAFETY ALERT: The TBI, Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, and Tennessee Department of Health have an important warning to pass along.

In response to a recent spike of overdose incidents in other states around the country, we want to raise awareness about a highly dangerous substance that is now being found in the illicit drug supply: Medetomidine.

Medetomidine is a veterinary anesthetic with powerful sedative properties—far more potent than Xylazine—and it can cause prolonged sedation. It has appeared in our crime labs and, alarmingly, it is often mixed with fentanyl.

We strongly urge everyone to avoid this extremely hazardous and potentially deadly drug.

If you or a loved one is at risk of overdose, keep naloxone on hand. If you can’t afford naloxone or you need training on how to use it, locate the Regional Overdose Prevention Specialist who serves your area at this link: TN.gov/behavioral-health/rops

For a free and confidential referral to addiction treatment services 24/7, call or text the Tennessee REDLINE at 1-800-889-9789. Treatment is available even if you have no means to pay for services.

Your safety matters. Share this message to help protect our communities.

09/24/2025

Elizabethton Covered Bridge Days was a huge success!! ✨

Our CAC Staff Samantha, Sophie and MaKenna were there over the weekend. We also want to give a huge shout out to our board member Heatherly who volunteered to take a shift at our tent! 🫶🏻

We were able to hand out resources, toys, awareness bracelets…etc to about 500 people!! 😄

Visitors that came by our tent received important information about:
•Safety planning, DV, sexual assault help and orders of protection from
•Online Safety including apps and games to be aware of
•Child abuse reporting and behaviors to be aware of
•How to handle a disclosure from a child
•Substance abuse as a parent/while pregnant and resources to recover
•Coloring sheets and talking points parents can use to teach kids about body safety!

AND MORE! 😊

Education is a HUGE part of preventing abuse. Thank you for allowing us to share our important messages. And thank you to all who stopped by ready to learn! 📝

09/23/2025

We are so thankful to those who make monthly donations to our programs. 👏👏👏

09/23/2025

Join the Unicoi County Long Term Recovery group this week as they recognize the one year anniversary of Hurricane Helene. Connect with your community, get resources, support one another, hear music, and honor those that were lost. 🫶🏻

09/22/2025

09/22/2025

Some of the reasons why advocating for children is STILL so important! Children are at-risk in various ways. Cyberbullying, AI, social media, mass shootings and societal tensions have made life for children even more challenging, scary and confusing than decades ago. 📱

We all have to work together to protect children. It is a daunting task that one person or organization cannot do alone, but it’s a task that can be taken on together. If we all work together, we CAN protect and educate our children as much as possible. 📚

How can each of us help? We can encourage our lawmakers to pass bills that keep children safe. We can ask our school administrators what types of body safety and bullying education children receive in school. We can empower our children by teaching them about safe adults and unwelcome touch. We can prepare kids by talking to them about peer pressure and drug use. We can learn about what apps and games our kids are using. We can help our kids by seeking guidance from a doctor or therapist. We can report suspected abuse to the hotline. 📞

There are so many ways we can be part of the fight against child abuse and exploitation. Be part of the solution for child safety and mental wellness!! 💪🏻🫶🏻

09/19/2025

You all guessed it!! Happy Bear was found playing on the playground!! 🛝✨

Stay tuned to see where he visits next!!

09/18/2025

09/15/2025

After spending last week in his bear cave, Happy Bear has decided to get back out there. He wanted to explore more of Johnson City!! 🔦

But like before, he’s not doing a great job of staying in touch. Can you guess where he is based on these photos?? 🕵🏻

09/11/2025

Executive Director Samantha and Family Advicate Hannah giving Senator Rusty Crowe an award from Children’s Advocacy Centers of Tennessee for his support of the Savanah Grace Copeland Act to increase funding for child advocacy centers across the state! 🙌🏻🏆